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Care Opinion

Lack of appointments at GP

Posted By 9697

"Lack of appointments at GP"

About: NHS Grampian

(as the patient),

A doctor that had carried out my medical at a private clinic telephoned me and advised me to go and see my GP a. s. a. p. as something had shown up on my blood tests.

I drove into the town and tried to book an appointment at the new Forres Health Centre. Not really expecting one that day but you never know.

This was on Tuesday morning and I was given an appointment for a week Friday. I couldn't believe my ears, especially as I said it was to be sooner rather than later.

Anyway, I was instructed to telephone the appointment line next morning as there would be appointments issued then.

I phoned the clinic bang on eight next morning (1st in-line) and secured an appointment, not for that day but the day after (Thursday) which was almost acceptable. Thursday morning before eight the house phone went, turns out another doctor was off and could I give up my appointment until the next day Friday?

My question is, if there were no appointments on the Tuesday for eleven days then where did the Friday one come from. Also if was not my doctor who was off on Thursday, why was it me to be re-assigned?

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Responses

Response from Linda Oldroyd, Chief Nurse for Surgery, NHS Grampian 9 years ago
Linda Oldroyd
Chief Nurse for Surgery,
NHS Grampian

Submitted on 27/01/2015 at 17:50
Published on Care Opinion at 21:22

picture of Linda Oldroyd

Dear patient

Thank you for taking the time to post this feedback. I am sorry that you are unhappy with the arrangements for getting an appointment with your GP. I have passed your questions on to the Practice Manager and asked her to answer your questions and comment on your concerns.

We will make sure her response is posted on this site.

Kind regards,

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Response from Linda Oldroyd, Chief Nurse for Surgery, NHS Grampian 9 years ago
Linda Oldroyd
Chief Nurse for Surgery,
NHS Grampian

Submitted on 18/02/2015 at 12:09
Published on Care Opinion at 12:32

picture of Linda Oldroyd

Dear patient

The practice has provided this reponse to your concerns:

Response to 9697 Lack of appointments at GP

I am extremely sorry that you have experienced problems with the appointment system.

Both practices release a selection of routine appointments each day for the following day and up to 10 days ahead.

If a Doctor is off sick on a day when they were due to be Duty Doctor we have to change another Doctor’s schedule to cover this. Unfortunately, this means that routine appointments have to be changed, although we try to keep this to a minimum and will endeavour to fit patients in as soon as possible. I think this may have been the case with your appointment.

Unfortunately, I don’t know which of the 2 practices based in the building you are registered with and the date you first requested an appointment so am unable to investigate as to whether there was a particular issue at that time.

I apologise once again and hope that you have a more satisfactory experience with us in the future.

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